Prep Football: James Robinson runs Rockford Lutheran past Oregon

ROCKFORD—For the Crusaders, it was all about how they respond to adversity. Late in the second quarter Oregon defenders hit Lutheran running back James Robinson after he’d been tackled and lay on the ground following an 11-yard run. His response – the sophomore rusher ripped off a 47-yard touchdown on the very next play giving the Crusaders a 28-point cushion.

ROCKFORD—For the Crusaders, it was all about how they respond to adversity. Late in the second quarter Oregon defenders hit Lutheran running back James Robinson after he’d been tackled and lay on the ground following an 11-yard run. His response – the sophomore rusher ripped off a 47-yard touchdown on the very next play giving the Crusaders a 28-point cushion.

Robinson’s response to adversity during their 48-14 dismantling of the Hawks was symbolic of the team’s response to last week’s loss to Winnebago.

“We had a sour taste in our mouths from last week and we felt like we had to come out here and make a statement tonight,” said senior quarterback Kendall Lawson who threw two touchdown passes. “I think we did that.”

Lawson was 7-of-10 for 144 yards, but most of the Lutheran statement was made by the legs of Robinson who carried 19 times for 227 yards and four touchdowns and added 34 yards and a touchdown on two receptions.

Lawson said the Crusader defense had a lot to say, too, after last week’s six-point loss.

“The defense felt like they could have played better last week, so tonight our goal was to hold them to 14 points and we did just that,” he said.

The Lutheran defense was shocked once in the first quarter when Oregon quarterback Tyler Blume dropped back from his 20-yard line and found Josh Cook splitting the safeties down the middle of the field. His toss hit Cook in stride at the Hawks 40 and Cook took it the distance for an 80-yard TD that cut the Lutheran lead to 14-7.

But Lutheran would only allow the Oregon quarterback one more completion for six yards the rest of the game. Lutheran held the Hawks to 233 total yards and didn’t let them on the board again until early in the fourth quarter when Oregon mounted a 14-play, 87-yard drive that cut the score to 48-14.

The Lutheran defense and special teams did their part by providing great starting position for the offense. Four of the Crusaders’ first eight possessions began in Oregon territory.

“The short field makes it a lot easier because I don’t have to run as far,” said Robinson who scored on five straight possessions. “It’s easier when my line blocks good, too.”

Robinson knew it was important to focus on playing hard every play in order for Lutheran to get back to its winning ways.

“We kept up the tempo, didn’t give up and showed no mercy,” said Robinson. “If feels good to get the win and know we showed them we were going to fight all night long.”

“We played great tonight, our line did a great job and James did a great job as well,” said Lawson.